Paul Lewis/SEOUL
Korean Air (KAL) is asking Boeing to defer delivery of three 747-400s in 1999 in return for maintaining next year's acceptance schedule for three 777s. Fellow cash-strapped South Korean carrier Asiana Airlines has also opened negotiations with the US manufacturer for the return of a $140 million deposit on its now deferred 777 order.
Faced with a sizeable downturn in international traffic and a credit squeeze, KAL is seeking to postpone delivery of two 747-400s and a -400F, representing half of its Boeing commitments in 1999. It is understood that in exchange the carrier will stick to its original delivery schedule and take one 777-200 and two stretched -300s.
The airline has been hit by South Korean Government reluctance to stand as guarantor on US Exim Bank financing for new orders. It has still to take delivery of this year's planned three 747-400s, with the first aircraft now due to enter service in September.
KAL had originally sought to defer all 11 aircraft on order in 1999, but has since reached agreement with Airbus Industrie to put back the delivery of two A330-200s to 2001/02. It plans to take the remaining two -300s and one -200 as planned next year. KAL has converted three of its A330-300 options for 2001, which would increase its order to 16 aircraft. A senior airline source, mindful of avoiding an upset in the delicate 747 deferral talks, says this has still to be finalised.
Meanwhile, Asiana has opened discussions with Boeing as it seeks a refund on its 777 deposit. The airline has deferred an initial order for three 777-200s and two -300s, which had originally been due for delivery between the end of 1998 and 2001. The airline has also deferred indefinitely its initial purchase of six A330s, but denies cancelling the order.
The airline had earlier planned to order a total of 18 A330-200/300s and 15 777-200/300s. It has since begun to reduce its fleet by selling three 747-400s to Qantas and returning leased 737s. Asiana's fleet now stands at 44 aircraft compared to 51 at its peak in September 1997. Further cuts are in prospect, while planned deliveries of 12 A321s have slowed considerably, with only one aircraft in service and a second due by the end of the year.
Boeing has dispatched a team to Seoul to assess a KAL 747-400 which was badly damaged after veering off the runway at 80kt (150km/h) some 2,000m (6,000ft) from the threshold. Extensive underbelly, landing gear, wing and engine damage to the two-year old aircraft may cost $90-100 million to repair. Preliminary analysis of the flight data recorder indicates there was incorrect rudder input used to counter severe crosswind.
Source: Flight International
